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Aucoin to miss Game 5 for Coyotes

by
Jerry Brown
/ NHL.com

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Phoenix Coyotes will be without Adrian Aucoin for the fourth time in their five Western Conference Finals games after the veteran defenseman did not take part in the skate prior to Game 5 on Tuesday night.

David Schlemko, who has not played since Game 1 of the series, will replace Aucoin in the lineup. Schlemko was a mainstay among the top six defensemen before severing a tendon on top of his right leg on Jan. 5. He was expected to miss the rest of the season following surgery, but returned in late March and has played sporadically since then. He has no points in four postseason games.

Aucoin, a veteran of 61 NHL playoff games, played 12 minutes in Game 4, which Phoenix won 2-0.The Coyotes trail 3-1 in the series and are trying to become just the fourth team in NHL history to rally from a 3-0 deficit.